Swimming mask



Aug. 7, 11923.

E. SCHNEIDT SWIMMING MASK s Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 1, 1920 Aug. 7,1923.

E. F. SQHNEHDT SWIMMING MASK Filed July 1, 1920 s Sheets-Sheet 2 amenwe;

atented Aug. 7, 1923.

v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SWIMMING MASK.

Application filed July 1, 1920. Serial No. 393,306.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST F. SCHNEIDT,.

a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county ofWayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Swimming Masks, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to swimming masks and has as its general objectto provide a mask which may be readily applied to the head and whichwill exclude water from the mouth, nostrils, and eyes, and thus removethe cause of intimidation of those learning to swim. Also the mask isdesigned to render swimming and surf bathing more enjoyable, inasmuch asthe head may be sub; merged without any inconvenience whatsoever.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the mask that whenthe head is above water the wearer Will experience no difficultywhatsoever in breathing in a natural manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mask of this type withmeans whereby the vision of the wearer will not be obstructed so thatconsiderable enjoyment may be had in viewing ones surroundings whenentirely submerged.

A still further object of the invention is to provide the mask with abreathing tubeor a connection for such a tube of such nature that, ifdesired, a long air tube may be attached thereto so as to permit thewearer of the mask remaining submerged for a considerable period oftime, and in fact so long as the intake end of this air tube ismaintained above water.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating one form of the maskembodying the present invention in use;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation illustrating the -mask in use Fig. 3 is avertical front to rear sectional view through the mask shown in Figs. 1and 2 Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on theline 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation illustrating a slightly modified form ofmask;

Fig. 6 is a vertical front to rear sectional view through this form ofmask.

In all figures of the drawings, the mask is indicated in general by thenumeral 1 and the same is preferably formed from comparatively thinrubber and will therefore be light 1n weight and will prove of nodiscomfort to the wearer- The mask is in the nature of a head coveringdesigned to completely cover the head,and it is provided at its lowerside with a neck piece which is indicated in general by the numeral 2and which is designed to more or less snugly surround or encompass theneck of the wearer and is preferably slightly thicker than the remainderof the mask although not so thick as to preclude stretching to therequired extent to permit of it being' readily passed over. the head.The mask proper is of a shape to generally conform to the generalcontour of the head and facial features, being molded to provide a noseportion, in that form of the invention shown in Figs, 1 to 4 inclusive,indicated by the numeral 3, and a chin portion indicated by the numeral4. If desired, however. the mask may be formed with suflicient fullnessto render unnecessary the provision of a definite nose portion, as forexample as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. In general, however, the mask willasstated conform more or less to the contour of the head and facialfeatures so as to comfortably fit the wearer without producingdiscomfort or unduly confining the head and face. It will be understoodat this point however that the neck portion 2 will be adapted to fit theneck sufficiently snugly to prevent the entrance of water into the mask,but this on the other hand may be accomplished without causing the neckportion to unduly restrict the neck or interfere with breathing.

That portion of the mask which is located immediately in front of theeyes and the bridge of the nose, when the mask is applied, is ofslightly greater thickness than the main portion of the mask, asindicated by the numeral 5, and is formed with eye openings indicated bythe numeral 6. Into each of these eye openings 6 there is permanently,or, if desired, detachably, fitted a pane 7 of glass, celluloid,isinglass, or in fact any other transparent material suitable for. thepurpose. In this manner means is provided whereby the wearer of the maskmay view his surroundings while completely submerged, and yet no watercan enter the mask through the eye openings 6.

That portion of the front of the mask 1 meral 8, and either fitted.through an opening in this portion or molded integral therewith, is abreathing tube 9 which may be of' the mask through the tube so long asits inner end is maintained closed in the manner stated. Of course, whenthe user again brings his head above water, he may relieve the tube ofpressure and it will therefore automatically open so that he may breathewithout inconvenience.

In that form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings,the portion 10 of the breathing tube 9 may if desired be formed of hardrubber so that there may be attached thereto one end of a breathing tube12 which may be of any desired length. In order to better support thistube and to prevent the end thereof which is fitted to the portion 10 ofthe tube 9 being accidentally torn loose, the tube is preferably led upwardly through a sleeve 13 which is preferably molded integral with thethickened portion 5 of the mask substantially at a point opposite thebridge of the nose. The

tube 12 may be either frictionally held within this sleeve to preventslippage or, if found necessary or desirable, it may be it may be of alength to extend, at its other end, above water so that the wearer ofthe mask, in this latter instance, may remain submerged for aconsiderable period of time without any inconvenience. :In the formerinstance, the tube. will enable the wearer of the mask to take breathwhile the nose and mouth are submerged and the top of the head is abovewater.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A swimming mask consisting of a head covering of flexible water-proofmaterial constructed to completely envelop the head of the wearer andhaving a neck portion adapted to encircle the neck of the wearer and beheld thereonby its own elasticity, the head covering being provided witha thickened front portion and having glazed sight openings in saidportion, an inhaling and exhaling tube forming a mouth piece passingthrough and being integral with the front portion of the head coveringbelow the sight openings, a sleeve on the exterior of the thickenedfront portion of the head covering, and a detachable tubular memberadapted to form a continuation of the breathing tube and extendinupwardly through and retained by said 5 eeve, terminating substantiallylevel with the top of the forehead portion of the mask.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ERNEST FRED SCHNEIDT. {L} 8.]

